MEDORA — To date, HOPE Medora Goes Pink has given $241,000 to those affected by all types of cancer.
The cancer awareness event started in the small southwestern Jackson County community in 2009.
On Saturday, the 14th annual event will start at 7 a.m. and feature a health fair with various types of screenings and continue throughout the day with a bra decorating contest, breakfast, lunch, a 5K run/walk, a cruise-in and car show, carnival games, craft and food booths, barrel and wagon rides and more.
The Pink Parade is canceled this year due to the school hosting a Class A volleyball sectional, but the committee will be planning the parade for next year’s fundraising event.
The health fair in the 237 Building at Medora Christian Church will include Schneck Medical Center offering discounted lab rates on prostate, thyroid gland and bone density screenings and a blood test (fast 10 hours prior), and the Don and Dana Myers Cancer Center will provide breast exam cards, nutrition information and cancer center information. For the screenings, it is cash or check only made payable to Schneck Medical Center.
There also will be free blood pressure and oxygen level tests and take-home colon cancer screening kits, and Columbus Regional Health will have breast clinic information. Advanced Audiology & Hearing Care of Bedford will be there along with Sherry Barnes doing therapeutic hand and back massages. Plus, the Medora Community Lions Club will be performing eye screenings.
Also in the 237 Building, there will be a silent auction, registration for door prizes, information about Medora’s historical sites, a Wall of Hope display and an opportunity to post ribbons, pictures and messages.
Bras for the Be My Support bra decorating contest, which was inspired by Mickayla Crane, can be entered on Friday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. a day before the event and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. They will be on display in the 237 Building, and the public will cast their votes through 1 p.m. First and second places will receive a $50 Circle K gas card, and third place will receive a $20 Visa gift card.
Bras are to be picked up by 4 p.m. on the day of the event.
Live music will start at 8:30 a.m. and run through 3 p.m. on the stage at George and Main streets.
The 5K will start at 9 a.m. Registration is from 8 to 8:45 a.m. on George Street, and the cost is $20, including a T-shirt. Medals will be awarded to those who cross the finish line.
Featured guest Christiana Rosch, an international athlete, will be giving taekwondo demonstrations throughout the day. She has black belts in Kukkikwon, Yoshukai, karate, International Taekwon-Do Federation and Hapkido.
She will begin demonstrations at 9:50 a.m. on Main Street at the entertainment booth, at 10:15 a.m. on George Street at Medora Christian Church, at 10:45 a.m. on George Street at the 237 Building and finally at 11:30 a.m. on Main Street.
Also, 2023 Jackson County Fair Queen Morgan Branaman and National American Miss Indiana Princess Ellamae Lewis will be present to greet the public and offer help throughout the day.
Registration for the cruise-in and car show will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m., and it will run through 2:30 p.m. on Perry and Riley streets. Awards will be at noon.
There will be an exhibition for dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles and Jeeps from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration will go from 9 to 10 a.m. A drawing for prizes will be at noon.
Carnival games, including bounce houses, will go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., craft booths will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and food booths will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The HOPE Ambassadors will be announced on the stage at Main and George streets at 9:30 a.m., while the baby (0 to 47 months), prince and princess (4 to 6 years) and king and queen (7 to 10 years) contests will start at 10:30 a.m. Registration will begin at 9:45 a.m. at Medora Christian Church. The entry fee is $5. Medals and ribbons will be presented.
From 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Brian Bowers will offer barrel rides for 50 cents and Marvin Reynolds will offer wagon rides to the Medora Covered Bridge and Medora Brick Plant for 50 cents for kids and $1 for adults.
At 11 a.m., the Cross for a Cause Relay will begin at Bundy Brothers & Sons Inc. and end at the stage at George and Main streets. The route will be posted on the Medora Goes Pink Facebook page.
A community walk and balloon launch will take place at 12:30 p.m. Balloons of colors representing all types of cancer can be purchased for 50 cents between 7 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the HOPE booth on Main Street or the north side of the Christian church.
There are no booth reservation fees. For information, contact event organizer Debra Wayman at 812-530-0093.
“Thank you to the donors, volunteers and those who support HOPE Medora Goes Pink,” Wayman said. “We are all in this fight together.”